Authorities arrest fugitive, jail three others on drug charges

Published: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 8:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 10:20 p.m.

City and county detectives in separate specialized units combined to make several arrests within the city limits of Ocala on Thursday, according to law enforcement officials.

Detectives with the Ocala Police Department's Special Deployment Unit and the Marion County Sheriff's Office Property Crimes and the Fugitive Apprehension units had received information that Justin Alexander Knight, 22, wanted on charges of armed residential burglary and grand theft in Ocala, along with violation of probation out of Hillsborough County for 60 counts of auto burglaries, was in the area.

The detectives then went to the 700 block of Southeast Eighth Street, Apt. B, looked through the front door and saw Knight down a hallway. Authorities entered the residence and arrested Knight without incident.

Officials noticed numerous open and capped syringes, metal spoons, a multi-colored glass pipe, pills and other paraphernalia lying around the residence. Officials reportedly recovered a dismantled meth lab and the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team was notified and responded to the residence.

Authorities talked with a resident of the apartment, Peter L. Letzgus, who reportedly told them he injects himself with oxycodone, and the last time he did so was about two days ago. Letzgus said he doesn't have a prescription for oxycodone, and that Knight, Travis Brewster and Ann Marie Bratta, who were also in the apartment, were new tenants and had moved in less than two weeks ago.

Officials found needles inside Bratta's purse. She reportedly told them that everyone in the house was drug users and had used needles to inject narcotics and pills into their bodies.

Bratta, 19, and Letzgus, 30, were both charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, while Brewster was charged with possession of a new legend drug and drug paraphernalia. He also has a warrant for his arrest out of Missouri for possession of heroin.

As for Knight, OPD detectives were looking for him in connection to a vehicle burglary late last month where a Kel-Tec

9 mm handgun was stolen from the center console. The car was processed and Knight's prints had been recovered from the driver's door. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Property crimes detectives from both the city and county are checking to see if Knight may have committed burglaries in their areas.

<p>City and county detectives in separate specialized units combined to make several arrests within the city limits of Ocala on Thursday, according to law enforcement officials.</p><p>Detectives with the Ocala Police Department's Special Deployment Unit and the Marion County Sheriff's Office Property Crimes and the Fugitive Apprehension units had received information that Justin Alexander Knight, 22, wanted on charges of armed residential burglary and grand theft in Ocala, along with violation of probation out of Hillsborough County for 60 counts of auto burglaries, was in the area.</p><p>The detectives then went to the 700 block of Southeast Eighth Street, Apt. B, looked through the front door and saw Knight down a hallway. Authorities entered the residence and arrested Knight without incident.</p><p>Officials noticed numerous open and capped syringes, metal spoons, a multi-colored glass pipe, pills and other paraphernalia lying around the residence. Officials reportedly recovered a dismantled meth lab and the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team was notified and responded to the residence.</p><p>Authorities talked with a resident of the apartment, Peter L. Letzgus, who reportedly told them he injects himself with oxycodone, and the last time he did so was about two days ago. Letzgus said he doesn't have a prescription for oxycodone, and that Knight, Travis Brewster and Ann Marie Bratta, who were also in the apartment, were new tenants and had moved in less than two weeks ago.</p><p>Officials found needles inside Bratta's purse. She reportedly told them that everyone in the house was drug users and had used needles to inject narcotics and pills into their bodies.</p><p>Bratta, 19, and Letzgus, 30, were both charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, while Brewster was charged with possession of a new legend drug and drug paraphernalia. He also has a warrant for his arrest out of Missouri for possession of heroin.</p><p>As for Knight, OPD detectives were looking for him in connection to a vehicle burglary late last month where a Kel-Tec </p><p>9 mm handgun was stolen from the center console. The car was processed and Knight's prints had been recovered from the driver's door. A warrant was issued for his arrest.</p><p>Property crimes detectives from both the city and county are checking to see if Knight may have committed burglaries in their areas.</p>